Serving as the gateway to many if not most grocery stores, the fresh produce department is crucial to getting your shoppers’ attention and setting the tone for their entire instore experience. And critical to that effort is getting the department’s design right.

One of Carlson AirFlo’s mottos is “Keeping it Fresh,” indicating the company’s dedication to developing products that empower retailers to create visually impactful displays that keep products looking fresh and shoppable, said Sharon Johnson, director of sales and marketing.

When it comes to produce departments, the company is most excited about its new AirBin, an all-in-one shelf that transforms refrigerated case merchandising in produce departments by eliminating parts and significantly reducing installation time.

With a U-shaped box design and singular mounting design, the AirBin delivers a quick and smooth experience for set-ups, resets, and cleaning. A four-foot set can be installed in less than four minutes, and because it’s constructed from solid anodized aluminum, it offers the same rust-proof durability of previous Carlson AirFlo shelving, making it suitable for wet or dry applications.

And with 16 different size options, it’s versatile enough to handle any layout or product mix.

“The box-like structure provides exceptional hold and stability for a wide range of products including bulk vegetables, cheeses, fruits and meats,” Johnson said. “With a lightweight, yet robust design, the AirBin ensures product stays put, even in high-traffic retail areas.”

Carlson AirFlo is also bullish on its new Easy Remove Flat Rack — the upgraded version of its popular Flex Flat Rack — which is designed for greater accessibility to the base of the refrigerated case.

With additional grommet holes for effortless handling, spring-loaded stainless-steel tabs that securely lock the depth in place, and an innovative hook system that mounts to a back bar for quick tilting or easy removal, the Easy Remove Flat Rack allows users to either:

• Tilt for Access: Tilt the rack up to clean and reach the bottom of the case without hassle; or
• Lift and Remove: Take out the base rack with no disruption to products on shelves above.

“It’s a real time-saver,” Johnson said. “Retailers can enjoy our rust-proof, easy-to-clean flat rack design with a more easy-access solution, completely doing away with messy case liners and cumbersome cleaning processes.”

Practical, durable and efficient, it allows grocery workers to spend less time on maintenance and more time servicing customers, Johnson added.

Carlson AirFlo’s most popular products for produce are the AirShelf, Glide RollerShelf and ELITE Self Facers, with the AirBin no doubt soon to join that list.

Over the years, Johnson said the company has noticed that anything that helps retailers save labor — especially since the Covid labor crunch — has become more popular.

“Retailers have also gravitated toward anything that provides for more ease and versatility in the stocking and stacking of products, so new team members or rotating staff who may not be fully trained in produce merchandising can still make the department look shoppable, organized, and fresh.”

This article is an excerpt from the December 2024 issue of Supermarket Perimeter. You can read the entire Department Design feature and more in the digital edition here.